Grip for clubs



T. S. PARK GRIP FOR CLUBS Sept. 5, 1944.

AFiled May 19, 1941 Patented Sept. 5, 1944 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE GRIP FOR CLUBS Tracy S. Park, Houston, Tex. Y y Application May 19, 1941, Serial No. 394,084 2 claims. (ci. 27s-so)l This invention relates to grips for clubs.

An object of the invention is to provide a grip specially designed for use on the handles or shafts of sport clubs particularly on the shafts of golf clubs although the grip may be designed for use on tennis racquets, ball bats, fishing rods and the like. A

The type of grip herein described constitutes an improvement on that type-of grip disclosed in Patent No. 2,115,119 issued to this applicant on April 26, 1938.

An object of the invention is to provide a grip formed of rubber or similar flexible, and compressible material which is reenforced, in a novel manner so that it will not be liable to be split or mutilated when it is attempted to fit the grip to the shaft of a golf club or other handle or rod to which the grip may be applied.

Grips of this general type are rst manufactured and are thereafter applied to the shaft, handle, or rod which may be slightly larger in transverse diameter than the inside diameter of the grip itself and in making the application the grip is radially expanded sometimes, unless the grip is reenforced, causing the grip to split longitudinally; furthermore, in making the installation the grip, unless reenforced, may become mutilated by the end of the shaft, handle or rod on which it is being installed. It is one of the objects of the present invention to so armor, or reenforce, the grip, as to prevent this splitting or mutilation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a grip of the character described having a fabric lining of strong material which will produce a better bond between the grip and the shaft, handle, or rod, when cemented thereon, than would be the case without the fabric lining; furthermore, when the grip is lined, as hereinafter described, with a fabric lining it will increase the stiffness thereof thereby making the grip firmer so that it will not so readily yield to the pressure exerted thereon by the hands of the player thereby giving a more secure grip.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, arrangement of parts and use, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a fragmentary side View of a mandrel showing one form of the grip lining thereon ready to be incorporated into the grip when the latter is molded about the mandrel.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing a slightly different form of lining.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation, partly in section, of a grip as molded onto the mandrel.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view thereof.

Figure 5 shows a side view, partly in section, of the completed grip as mounted on the shaft of a golf club, and

Figure 6 shows an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view thereof.

In the drawing the numeral I refers toa golf club shaft or handle which in the present illustration is composed of steel and formed tubular. The grip herein described is secured on the handle by cementing the same to the handle.

The grip is designated generally by the numeral 2 and is made up of the inner layer 3 of rubber or similar resilient material. It may be formed exclusively of rubber or of rubber and other materials such as ground cork ber or the like. This inner layer 3, of material, forms a cushion and is gradually enlarged, in diameter', from the inner end to the outer end thereof.

The outer surface of the gripping member 2 may be smooth or it may have a frictionalgripping layer 4 as described in the patent hereinabove referred to.

The inside of the grip is lined with a tubular fabric lining, such as stockinet lformed of cotton or other selected fabric material. This'lining is indicated by the numeral 5, or 5a, as in Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figure 1, the warp and woof threads are diagonal relative to the axis of the mandrel on which the grip may bei molded, as hereinafter described, and the warp and woof threads of the lining 5a extend longitudinally and transversely witha respect to said'axis.

If the lining is on the inside surfaceof the grip, it will form a better bond with the shaft I when the grip is cemented on said shaft. The lining, however, may be completely embedded within the material of the grip if desired and in such case will form an effective reenforcement for the grip so as to prevent splitting or muti lation thereofwhen the grip is forced onto the shaft l.

Whether the lining is at the inner side of the grip and thus in contact with the shaft I or whether it is embedded within the material of the grip, it will in either event resist radial expansion of the grip when it is installed and will cause the grip to contract and securely take hold of the shaft.

In practice, the lining is cut in length somewhat shorter than the length of the grip 2 and is placed on the mandrel 6 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the rubber is placed in a mold and vulcanized about the mandrel and the lining thereon so that the lining 5, or 5a, Will be embedded Within the rubber or rubberized material of which the grip is composed.

The mandrel is then removed from the grip thus formed and the grip is then forced onto the outer end of the shaft, said outer end, as Well as the inner A,side of the grip, having been previously x'coated vvitlicement. VThe outside diameter ofv the'n shaft issometimes slightly larger than the inside diameter of the grip and, consequently, the grip is slightly expanded when forced on the shaft but the fabric material 5, or

5a, While allowing for the necessary expansion of the grip will prevent splitting thereof and said lining will also prevent the grip from being mutilated by coming into Contact with the outer end of the shaft While the grip is being forced onto' the shaft. At the outer end of the steel shaft, the rubber cushioning layer 3 extends slightly beyond the kend of the shaft and there is an opening in the layer of rubber corresponding with the opening through-theshaft and a button or plug 1 of hard rubber or other similar material is fixed therein and provided with a radial flange 8 intertting with the soft rubber of the cushioning layer.

This plug may be securely cemented in place.

The type of grip hereinabove described may be so shaped, in the manufacture thereof, as to be applicable to other types of shafts, rods,4 or handles.

The drawing and description are illustrative merely While the broad principle of the invention Will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A handle grip for sport clubs, and the like, comprising a cushioning layer of resilient material and a continuous, tubular lining therefor formed of fabric with its Warp and Woof threads on the diagonal and vulcanized with the resilient material and presenting an inside gripping area for gripping the handle to which the grip is applied.

2. A handle grip for sport clubs, and the like, comprising a cushioning layer of resilient material and a continuous, tubular lining therefore formed of fabric with its threads on the diagonal and vulcanized with the resilient material and presenting an inside gripping area for gripping the handle to which the grip is applied.

TRACY S. PARK. 

